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The abject joy Bart Simpson received from kicking the crotch of a poor, overqualified drama student in a giant faux fur costume at a theme park could soon be a thing of the past, with Disney filing a patent application for a "soft body robot for physical interaction with humans" to presumably entertain strange space-children in the coming decades.

Ignoring everything Westworld taught us about robotics, along with every film set in a futuristic theme park to ever exist, Disney research scientists are exploring the manufacturing of robots that can safely interact with young people. To prevent them from killing everything in sight, the robots will have their limbs programmed by a nearby controller, who will operate "desired motions and output forces".

One of the robotics illustrations attached to the Disney patentCredit:
United States Patent and Trademark Office

Another of the robotics illustrations from the Disney patentCredit:
United States Patent and Trademark Office

The patent document concedes, however, that "it has proven difficult to provide wholly safe interactions between humans and robots simply by operating these humanoid and other robots with controlled movements."

Scientists have so far developed a small test robot based on the Big Hero 6 character Baymax, with a soft and durable outer shell (called a "soft skin", which is... unsettling), its upper body filled with fluid and able to be programmed by a controller. Each body part of the test design was also connected to a pressure sensor, enabling safe interaction with a young child subject who is presumably still alive.

"As robotic systems become cheaper, more reliable, and more capable, their prevalence in our everyday environment continues to increase," the document says. "Robots can be found providing interactive guidance or entertainment in stores and amusement parks and in more dynamic settings like homes, schools, hospitals, and the workplace where they teach, provide therapy, and lend an extra set of hands."

While the patent gives no indication as to a timeframe for when Disney are hoping to put the so-called "humanoid robots" into action, it could mean the days of actual humans interacting with young people at Disneyland theme parks could be numbered... at least if they crack safety guidelines for these mechanical death machines.

The patent also make no mention of whether the robots are just the latest attempt to resurrect Walt Disney himself, who has of course been locked in a cryogenically frozen state for decades awaiting his ascension into the new world.